Blackmagic Design Inc. today announced qualification of DeckLink HD Extreme and DeckLink HD Pro by Apple for use with its Final Cut Studio 5.1 software. Apple qualification of capture cards is achieved through rigorous testing and analysis to ensure that devices such as DeckLink HD Extreme and Pro are compatible with current Apple hardware and software.

"We are extremely proud that our video capture products have been qualified for Final Cut Studio 5.1," said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. "Being the first capture card to receive qualification for Apple's Final Cut Studio 5.1 is testament to the high standards of quality and reliability we build into our products. Meeting Apple's high level of quality means our customers have the highest level of interoperability and performance and the best solutions for their projects."

DeckLink HD Extreme and DeckLink HD Pro, along with Final Cut Studio 5.1, provide professional video editors with a tremendous professional desktop editing solution. Blackmagic Design's support for Final Cut Studio offers new opportunities for Mac users worldwide.

DeckLink HD Extreme is the world's first PCIe HDTV capture card to feature both SDI and analog connections, combined with full HD and SD compatibility at an SD-only price. DeckLink HD Extreme switches between HD and SD instantly, so it is the ideal solution for customers who still work exclusively in SD, but are transitioning to HDTV production. MSRP is US$995.